Kyle Busch
If you are living on a budget, or even on an unlimited budget, you know
how important it is to make the most of what you have. Getting More
Miles Out of Your Car: The following are some tips that will help you
to get more miles out of your vehicle.

First, consider, does your vehicle actually have the ability
to run many miles without incurring costly repairs? An easy way to find
out is to visit a public library to consult the frequency-of-repair
information in a recent magazine issue of "Consumer Reports."
If the vehicle that you are
driving has a reasonable repair history, it is worthwhile to drive it
until your heart is content. However, if it has a very poor repair
history, it
might be time to consider buying a vehicle that has better ratings and
fuel efficiency.

Assuming that you want to extend the life of your vehicle,
at the beginning of each month, have the
engine oil level checked to make certain that it is at the full-level
mark on the dipstick. Buy two quarts of oil that are on sale and keep
them in the trunk. Then, if the engine needs oil, you will not get
stuck paying three times what the oil should cost.
Be certain to only use the type of oil and other fluids as specified in
the vehicle owner's manual.

Every three months (more often, however, if specified by
your vehicle owner's manual) and prior to leaving for and upon
returning from a trip, check (or have a service station attendant
check) the tire pressure and the other fluids that include:

Be certain to observe what the service station attendant
does and ask questions, because you can likely check these items.

Why is it so important to keep the fluids at their
full-level marks? Because the fluids lubricate moving
parts to reduce fiction, heat, and wear-the single most important
factor for extending the life of a vehicle.

If you drive 10,000 or more miles per year, have the engine
oil and oil filter changed every 3,000 to 3,500 miles or about every
four months.
If you drive 6,000 miles or less per year, have the engine oil and oil
filter changed at the beginning of spring
and near the end of fall. An easy way to remember oil changes is to
mark a new calendar at the beginning of a year with "oil change"
reminders (i.e., March, July, and November or May and November).

Service stations run specials in the newspaper for oil
changes (i.e., $10.99 - $13.99). However, make certain that the station
is reputable. Some stations have been known to skip changing the oil or
to do part of the job by changing the oil but not the oil filter.
Consider using a black marker to put an X on the oil filter after an
oil change. When the next oil change has been completed, a newly
installed filter should not include an X

Before the cold of winter sets in, have a service station
attendant check the antifreeze in the clear plastic coolant bottle with
a hydrometer (a device that takes a sample of antifreeze and specifies
how cold the temperature can become before the antifreeze freezes). The
antifreeze in your vehicle should be able to withstand (i.e., not
freeze) temperatures of at least 30 degrees "below the coldest" winter
temperature.

If the antifreeze in your vehicle is too weak, have
additional antifreeze added to the coolant bottle. Purchase the type of
antifreeze as specified in the vehicle owner's manual (i.e., usually a
type that is suitable for "aluminum and all types of metals" that are
used today's engines).

Why is it important for the antifreeze not to freeze during
the winter? Because frozen antifreeze can crack an engine's block which
could result in possibly thousands of dollars for the repair.

BASIC MAINTENANCE
If you drive over 10,000 miles per year, have the engine air filter
changed once a year in the spring. If you drive about 6,000 miles or
less per year, have the engine air filter changed once every two years.
Many discount stores have sales on air filters.

In the spring and the fall give the vehicle a thorough wash,
tar removal, and wax. When washing
the vehicle in-between the seasonal waxes, use a car wash product that
is safe for clear coat and waxed finishes.

Basic vehicle maintenance is an ongoing process. The secret
to making it "easy" and keeping a vehicle "looking great" involves two
components. First, maintaining regular vehicle involvement
and second, only doing a little at a time.

Each week throughout the year (in addition to the
maintenance suggested above) take only about 10-15 minutes to focus on
a small aspect of the vehicle. For example, one week wash the windows.
The next week, vacuum the carpet, and the following week, Armor All the
dash and the door panels etc., etc. After about three months, one of
the "small jobs" will be ready to be repeated. However, the vehicle
will never be in rough shape. Doing a "small but thorough" job on one
specific aspect of the vehicle each week, requires very little time or
energy. Having a vehicle that continually "looks great" makes it
worthwhile.

The tips provided above are the most basic maintenance
requirements that will help your vehicle to run longer. Remember to
reference the vehicle owner's manual for any additional maintenance
required on your vehicle. Basic vehicle maintenance involves
a minimal investment of time and money, but it can provide major
benefits in vehicle performance and lower repair costs. Additionally,
your vehicle will be in better condition when it becomes time to sell.

First,
consider, does your vehicle actually have the ability to run many miles
without incurring costly repairs? An easy way to find out is to visit a
public library to consult the frequency-of-repair information in the
April magazine issue of "Consumer Reports." If the vehicle
that you are
driving has a reasonable repair history, it is worthwhile to drive it
until your heart is content. However, if it has a very poor repair
history, it
might be time to consider buying a vehicle that has better ratings and
fuel efficiency.

-
Assuming that you want to extend the life of
your

vehicle, at the
beginning of each month, have the

engine oil level checked to make certain
that it is

at the full-level mark on the dipstick. Today's

engines have extremely close tolerances thus

making liberation as impotent as ever. This is

apparent when marquee names such as Porsche

and BMW are building engines with multiple oil

pumps to insure engine liberation regardless of if

the vehicle is charging up a steep hill or thrown

into a banked turn. Buy two liters of oil that are

on sale and keep them in the boot. Then,
if the

engine needs oil, you will not get stuck paying

three times what the oil should cost.

Note: Be
certain to only use the type of oil and other

fluids as
specified in the vehicle owner's manual. If
you

need
assistance to understand the owner's manual, visit

the
dealership that sells your make of vehicle, and
write

down
the type of oil and other fluids to be used in your

vehicle.

- Every
three months (more often, however, if specified

by your vehicle
owner's manual) and before leaving for

and upon returning from a trip, check (or have a
service

station attendant
check) the tire pressure and the other

fluids that include:

Transmission
fluid

Brake fluid

Power steering fluid

Radiator coolant
(check the clear plastic bottle)

Windshield washer fluid

Be
certain to observe what the service station
attendant

does and ask questions,
because you can likely check

these
items.

Why
is it so important to keep the fluids at their full-level

marks?
Because the fluids lubricate moving parts to

reduce fiction,
heat, and wear. Therefore, If a part wears

because
of a lack of fluid, providing all the fluid in future

will
not repair the damaged part.

- If
you drive 16,000 km (10,000 miles) or more per

year, have the engine oil and oil
filter changed every

4,800 to 5,600 km (3,000 to 3,500 miles) or
about

every four months. If you drive 9,600 km (6,000

miles) or less per year, have
the engine oil and oil filter

changed at the
beginning of spring and near
the end of

fall.
Condensation (water) will build-up in
the oil of a

car that is sitting. Therefore, even if
the vehicle is only

driven a few thousand miles per year, the oil should

be changed in
the spring and in the fall. An easy
way

to remember oil
changes is to mark a new calendar

at
the beginning of a year with "oil change"
reminders

(i.e.,
March, July, and November or May and

November).

Note:
Service stations run specials in the newspaper

for oil changes (i.e., $10.99 - $13.99 (UK Pounds 9.50 - 10.00
)).

However, make certain that the station is
reputable.

Some service stations have been
known to skip

changing the oil or to do part of the job by changing

the oil but not the oil filter. Consider using
a black

marker to
put an X on the oil filter
after an oil change.

When the next oil change has been completed, a newly

installed filter should not include an
X.

- Before the cold of winter sets in,
have a service station

attendant
check the antifreeze in the clear plastic coolant

bottle with
a hydrometer (a device that takes a sample of

antifreeze and specifies how
cold the temperature can

become
before the antifreeze freezes). The antifreeze in

your vehicle should be able to withstand (i.e., not
freeze)

temperatures
of at least 17 Celsius (30 degrees) "below

the coldest" winter temperature.

Note: There
should be no cost to have the antifreeze

checked with
a hydrometer. If the antifreeze in your

vehicle is
too weak, have additional antifreeze added

to
the coolant bottle. Antifreeze can be
purchased at

many department stores. Purchase the type of antifreeze

as specified in the vehicle owner's
manual (i.e., usually a

type that is suitable for "aluminum and all types of
metals"

that are used today's engines).

Why is it important for the antifreeze not to freeze

during the winter? Because frozen antifreeze can
crack

an engine's block which could result in possibly thousands

of pounds
for the repair.

- If you drive over 10,000
miles (16,000 km) per year,

have the engine air filter changed once a
year in the

spring. If you drive about 6,000 miles
(9,600 km) or

less per year, have the engine air filter changed
once

every two years. Note: Discount stores
sometimes run

sales on vehicle air filters. If necessary, ask the
clerk

who works in the auto department to
help you to look

up the number (remember to write it down
for future

reference) of the correct air filter for
your specific

vehicle (take the vehicle owner's manual
with you into

the store to reference the size of the engine, but be

certain that you do not forget it and thus
leave the

store without it).

- In the spring and the fall give the
vehicle a thorough

wash,
tar removal, and wax. When washing the vehicle

in-between
the seasonal waxes, use a car wash product

that
is safe for clear coat and waxed finishes.

- Basic vehicle maintenance is an ongoing
process.

The
secret to making it "easy" and keeping a vehicle

"looking
great" involves two components. First,

maintaining
regular vehicle involvement and second,

only
doing a little at a time.

Each week
throughout the year (in addition to the

maintenance suggested
above) take only about

10-15
minutes to focus on a small aspect of the

vehicle.
For example, one week wash the windows.

The
next week, vacuum the carpet, and the following

week, treat
the dash and the door panels etc.,

etc. After about three months, one of the "small
jobs"

will be ready to be repeated. However, the vehicle

will never be in rough shape. Doing a "small but

thorough" job on one specific aspect of the vehicle

each week, requires very little time or energy. Having

a vehicle that continually "looks great" makes it

worthwhile.

The
tips provided above are the most basic maintenance

requirements
that will help your vehicle to run longer.

Remember to
reference the vehicle
owner's manual for

any additional
maintenance required on your vehicle.

Basic vehicle
maintenance involves a minimal investment of

time and
money, but it can provide major benefits in vehicle

performance and lower repair costs. Additionally,
your vehicle

will be in better
condition when it becomes time to sell.

Buy
the book. Kyle's book, "Drive the
Best..." is the source of these articles
and many of the invaluable motoring tips to be found on our Websites.
Saving money, improving reliability and having a more attractive
automobile are just some of the things you can have if you read and
apply some of the gems found in his book.